Sun Valley offers
new skiing discount
"It’s
an experiment to see if we can reenergize some local and regional skiers.
We’re very hopeful, though we have no idea how this is going to
work."
- Wally
Huffman, Sun
Valley Co. general manager
By GREG
STAHL
Express Staff Writer
As part of
an effort to attract more local and regional skiers to the Wood River
Valley, Sun Valley Co. announced Tuesday it will offer 40 days of skiing
for $595.
The move
comes amidst a slipping economy in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks.
"It’s
an experiment to see if we can reenergize some local and regional
skiers," Sun Valley Co. General Manager Wally Huffman said. "We’re
very hopeful, though we have no idea how this is going to work."
The pass,
called the 20-20 season pass, has qualifications, however. If purchased
between Oct. 10 and Nov. 16, it will cost $595. If purchased after Nov.
16, it will cost $695.
Holding
true to its name, the pass is good for 20 days of skiing during the
off-season and 20 days during the peak season, Dec. 16 to March 31.
Those with
20-20 passes may not ski between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 or between Feb. 16
and Feb. 22, and may not ski more than two days per week.
The pass
was unveiled amidst a round of applause from Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber of
Commerce board members Tuesday afternoon.
"This
is fabulous, Wally" chamber board member Theresa Comber told Huffman.
The purpose
of the meeting was also to look at the larger picture, however. Chamber
marketing director Carrie Schiller-Westergard said the chamber has about
$63,500 left in its marketing budget that can be channeled into tapping
regional skiers and visitors. The question was: How?
"I
think what we’re hearing loud and clear is that we need to focus on the
regional market, at least in the short term," chamber Executive
Director Carol Waller said. "We’ve got a challenging situation
coming up for the winter ahead."
By the
meeting’s conclusion, a lot had been discussed, though little had been
concluded.
Huffman
said the biggest concern about the coming winter is if "something
else happens" that’s akin to the Sept. 11 attacks.
"That’s
the unknown, and that’s the worry," he said. "If something
else happens, our share of the destination market will just
disappear."